As the two teams were finishing breakfast and much to Beurling and Tomoko's relief the jokes had been held to a minimum, the two teams along with the other students were discussing who they would be facing in the competition.
"Who do you think we'll get?" Frenda wondered aloud.
"Hopefully that guy from before she I knock him down a peg." Beurling growled.
"Beurling, please no provoking." Tomoko pouted next to her girlfriend.
"To be fair your kiss was kind of provoking." Frenda countered.
"I guess you're right." Tomoko admitted.
"Ok, come on you lot." Maple ordered the rest of the team "Also Beurling stop rubbing off on Tomoko, don't Frenda, I don't need a third headache."
Maple and Sgàil scrolls beeped, the two took out the scrolls and Beurling noticed that others were doing the same.
"Well the team match ups have been selected." Sgàil explained.
"Who are we facing?" Horatia asked.
"Team RSSE of Mistral and were facing them tomorrow." Sgàil answered showing the scroll to the rest of the teams Beurling saw that most of RSSE were a predominantly a mix of red and white outfits, under them Beurling saw that Blau's team BLUU would be facing team GILD from Mistral and she saw the man who had hounded them at breakfast and on the stairs appear on screen the name under his picture reading Gilles Gold.
"We're the next day." Maple told her team "And we're facing team IRRN of Vale."
"Those should be easy, Beurling could take them easy on her own." Tomoko smiled.
"Trying to sweet talk your way to something?" Frenda smiled at the two.
"Frenda!" both of them groaned "You're the worst." Tomoko added, but this just got a laugh out the rest of the group.
"Come on Tomoko, we need to get going."
"Where are you going?" Maple asked.
"Personal." Beurling answered as she helped Tomoko to stand up and walked out the canteen.
(Few hours later, on the way to Mantle)
'What do I do if they say no?' Beurling thought to herself as she walked along the road next to Tomoko.
It had been her suggestion that until they told Tomoko's family, they shouldn't show they were romantically involved just in case it sparked something and though Tomoko had pouted she had eventually given in.
"Hey you ok?" Tomoko asked.
"Yeah, sorry, I'm still worried."
"It will be fine." Tomoko smiled.
"Don't you think your being a little too optimistic about this?"
"I know your worried, but I know my own family, they'll be fine with it."
Beurling sighed "Just because your related doesn't mean your all going to be in the same side, I'm a prime example of that."
"You mean your mother?"
Beurling nodded "Plus, I'm still not sure how the whole thing with what my mother did the other day will go over, I'm just saying I'm going to worry till they give the answer."
Tomoko leaned her head Beurling's shoulder, getting a few whispers and stares from human and faunus a like, Beurling responded by standing up and shouting at the people staring "Oi, why don't you lot mind your own business!" before she sat down and apologised to Tomoko "Sorry."
"It's ok, I guess we'll have to get used to that."
"Yeah, we'll get it a lot." Beurling sighed and just as then an Atlas officer came over to the two 'Come on, I'm not in the mood to deal with you.'
"Excuse me ma'am…" the officer started but Beurling stood up.
"Let me guess you're going to say about human and faunus relationships, well don't, here." Beurling growled as she showed the man her ID showing that she was from Vacuo.
"Erm…" the officer said a little confused.
"We're both from Vacuo and if you call colonel Ironclad, you'll find out we're except from your rules, or do you not want to disturb him."
The man looked over her ID again before he nodded "Sorry ma'am." The man apologised before he walked away.
"Bit underhand to do that, wasn't it?"
"It was that or throw him out the window." Beurling sat down and pinched her noise "I really hate this place." Beurling sighed as she sat down again next to Tomoko.
"I know, but just bear with it, it won't be for long."
"Just being here is too long."
"Well, just think we'll be champions soon and then you can leave here with a smile." Tomoko smiled.
"Oh, you got that much faith in me winning?"
"Of course." Tomoko smiled before she whispered, "You're my knight after all."
Beurling felt herself blushing slightly "Don't try sweet talking me." Tomoko merely smiled at the brawler's blush.
As the pair walked down to the house Beurling felt her fear building with each step 'Come on, think positive, for Tomoko.' she thought to herself, her concerns were not helped by the eyes following them as they were walking down the street Beurling could feel the eyes glued to the pair, though thankfully no-one said a word as the pair walked down the street hand in hand.
Just was they were coming up to houses Tomoko's home a shout caught the pairs attention.
"Tomoko!" shouted a blonde girl.
"Luna." Tomoko smiled.
"She a friend?" Beurling asked as Luna moved towards the pair.
"Yeah she was mine and my sister's best friend when we were kids." Beurling looked again, while the girl seemed calm with her hands in her white coat, Beurling could see they hands were clanged in fists, the most concerning thing was the girls grey eyes, they seemed to be staring daggers at her and throwing an occasional one at Tomoko, whatever Tomoko said Beurling got a distinctively unfriendly vibe from the girl.
"Is she a faunus or human?" Beurling asked as she couldn't see any noticeable faunus traits, but she was aware of faunus who had hidden traits.
"She's a leopard faunus, she has claws."
As she came up to the pair Beurling took a step forward just in case "Luna, how are you?" Tomoko asked with a smile.
"I'm ok." Luna's response was short and with a hint of chill to her voice "And who's this with you?" Luna asked looking over Beurling 'This is not good.' Beurling though to herself.
"This is my partner Beurling, from Vacuo." Tomoko replied stepping closer Beurling, her smile gone.
"Partner?" Luna looked back Tomoko surprised.
"Yeah, I'm going to Shade academy to become a huntress, do you not remember?"
"Didn't know they paired you up." Luna went back to check over Beurling.
"We're part of a team, two humans and two faunus too." Tomoko added.
"Oh and who's leading?"
"Maple, she's an eagle owl faunus."
Beurling could almost feel the chill around the three, even Tomoko seemed to notice.
"Oh, so Beurling's a human then." Luna glared at the pair, throwing her black hair back behind her revealing a black choker around the girl's neck.
Beurling was desperately trying to think of a way out the situation they were both in "Excuse me miss Beurling, but me and Tomoko need to discuss something in private."
"Erm you don't have to call me miss ma'am." Beurling hoped her attempt at respect would defuse the situation a bit, though by the look on Luna's face it seemed to have no effect.
"Go on Beurling, I'll be right here, you can go tell my mum and Aira we're here, I'll be right along." Tomoko whispered and gave Beurling a kiss on the check.
'You really shouldn't have done that.' Beurling sighed in head as she saw Luna's hands come out of her coat. Beurling was conflicted, she didn't want to leave Tomoko alone but she also didn't want this girl to be arrested for hitting a human.
"Ok, but don't be too long." Beurling whispered as she jogged off the door, hoping she could get either of Tomoko's mum or sister to help 'So long as they don't react badly.' Beurling's doubt voiced in her head as she looked back and saw Luna scowl at Tomoko who had her hands up.
Once she reached the door she started to knock, she was sure she was if she hit it any harder, she'd have knocked it down.
"Ok, ok, it's not a matter of life and death." came Aria's voice as she opened the door, the worry must have been on Beurling's face as the next thing Aria asked was "Where's Tomoko?"
Before Beurling could answer the pair heard a smack and cry come from the street, the pair turned and saw Tomoko laying on the pavement crawling away while Luna stood over her claws and teeth bared.
Beurling didn't wait for Aria she just ran back the way she came, as she started, she heard Aria jump down and run behind her.
"Oi, Luna what the hell are you doing?" Aria shouted as the pair reached the scene.
"Do you know about this?" Luna growled at Aria as Beurling helped Tomoko up.
"I don't what you're talking about and I don't care, you don't hit my sister."
"She's a traitor." Luna screamed.
Beurling pulled Tomoko behind her so the faunus was facing her back, as she did, she felt Tomoko grab her coat and the hand that had moved Tomoko behind her felt the gunner shake, Beurling could feel her fear bubbling up.
"Look if you want to hit someone hit me not her." Beurling let out not really thinking of what she was saying for a second, her worry getting on top of her.
"Oh yeah, you'd love that, give your kind a chance to do this again!" Luna snarled as she pulled the choker to reveal a dust companies mark that Beurling was unfamiliar with, though she was familiar with the practice of marking faunus who broke Atlas law being branded and forced to work in a dust mine as punishment for a set period of time.
Beurling took a step back "That wasn't…"
"Of course it wasn't." Luna scoffed.
"Beurling, get my sister inside, I'll handle this." Aria ordered.
"Are you sure?"
"Oh I'm very sure." Aria glared at Luna who copied her "I want a word or two with Luna."
Beurling turned and took Tomoko back to her house as the faunus shook in the brawler's arms, while Luna and Aria argued in the street, just as they were coming to the door Kelly appeared at the door.
"What happened?" Kelly asked.
Before Beurling could answer Aria screamed at Luna "I don't care what was said, you lay a hand on my sister again I'll break it!" Beurling just nodded to pair in the street.
"Beurling could you take Tomoko to her room?" Kelly asked.
Beurling nodded as Kelly exited the house and went down to the arguing pair, just as Beurling was through the door Aria shouted out again "I know full well what happened to you, but that does not give you the right to hit Tomoko, weather she's dating a human or not!"
Beurling turned and saw Kelly looking at the two, Beurling felt Tomoko grabbing hold of Beurling's jumper and coat as tight as she could, Kelly merely nodded to the brawler before heading off again.
'This is not going well.' Beurling sighed in her head as she took Tomoko into the house.
"Second door on the left." Tomoko choked out.
As soon as the pair were in the room Tomoko turned and rested her head on the brawler's shoulder "Maybe this was a mistake." her voice muffed by the coat.
Beurling wasn't sure what to say so just hugged the faunus tight and deciding to remain quiet and trying to ignore the negative feeling she was feeling in the pit of her stomach 'Charlotte, help me please.' Beurling thought as she held her crying girlfriend.
"Is this what you were nervous of?" Tomoko asked.
"Yes." Beurling forced past the lump in her throat.
"Tomoko, if your told to…"
Tomoko grabbed on tighter to Beurling's coat "I'm not leaving you." Tomoko muffled "I don't care what happens, I'm not."
Beurling was touched by the words for a second till she realised the implications of the words the faunus was saying "Tomoko…"
"NO!" Tomoko shouted looking the brawler in the eye "I made my choice a long time ago Beurling, I chose you." Tomoko choked resting her for head on Beurling's chest "Besides, Luna's going to tell everyone about this so I'm likely an outcast from here now anyway."
"But if your mum and sister say no then you could lose them to, lose your family."
"Beurling, whatever happens, you're my family now." Tomoko whispered looking back at the brawler and cupping Beurling's cheek "I told you I didn't want to give up this feeling and I meant it."
"Tomoko, if you did have to…" Beurling paused not wishing to speak the words "I never had a family for years I grew up alone with no one to turn to or shoulder to cry on, I don't want that for you, staying with me might cause that, just if we didn't work out you'd be alone with no one."
"What would you do in my position, if you were faced with my options, what would you do?"
"If you asked me before last night, I'd say pick your family." Beurling looked down.
"And now, after last night?"
Beurling swallowed, her mind going a million miles an hour trying to think of words to convince Tomoko to still pick her family but they died for they even formed, then a voice in the back of her mind began talking 'Never let fear stop us from doing something we want.' It said in Charlottes voice.
Beurling looked up, before placing a kiss on Tomoko's head "I'd pick you, after you kissed me it's made me feel things I haven't felt in so long or ever felt, I don't want to stop that either, but I'm just scared, scared to keep you because I might hurt you and scared to lose you because I'll hurt myself."
"Beurling." Tomoko smiled as she kissed the brawler "I've known what I've felt for a long time and I'm the same, after I kissed you I knew I was heading down a road with no way back, but I went down it because I want to, so please don't leave me on it because that's the only way you'll hurt me and that's the only thing that really scares me in the world."
"Tomoko…"
"I won't say it yet, not till you're ready to," Tomoko took a step back, before taking one of Beurling's hands and gently placed it over her heart "I know it's a bit cheesy, but you know what I want to say don't you?"
Beurling nodded and smiled "Sorry, it's just when I was standing up to that guy before I was worried it would kill what's between us right there."
"I was to, that's why I kissed you after it."
"Oh so it wasn't because he said I was cute."
"Well that didn't help." Tomoko blushed, her tail wagging making Beurling smile.
"Tomoko, can I ask something from you?"
"Anything."
"Can I hold you, till your mum and Aria come back?"
"I'd like that." Tomoko smiled as she hugged the brawler and Beurling returned the hug. It amazed her that just something simple like this could make her forget the rest of the world for as long as it lasted. Deciding to be a bit more selfish she moved a hand and gently ruffled the girl's hair making her sigh.
"Is that ok?"
"Hmm yes, keep going."
Beurling did as ordered, it felt like forever to her and Tomoko, though in reality it was a couple of minutes, the two thought they could have stayed like that all day, but they were broken out of their piece of heaven by a knock at the door.
"Oi, Tomoko, Beurling you better not be doing anything on my bed, now get out here, mum wants a word." Aira's voice sounded through the door.
"You ready?" Tomoko asked with a sigh at their moment ending.
"As I'll ever be." Beurling sighed a she took the faunus's hand and opened the door.